Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue crews revive dog with pet oxygen masks after being caught in house fire

Published: 17 May 2018

Hertfordshire’s Fire and Rescue
services have used one of their new pet oxygen masks to revive an unconscious
dog after it was trapped in a house fire in Welwyn Garden City.

Crew Commander Dean Harrison and
the Hatfield Fire and Rescue crew administered trauma care to the unconscious
and hyperventilating terrier after she was rescued from the house once the fire
had been extinguished. The Trauma Team used the ‘Smokey Paws’ oxygen therapy
masks to revive the family pet who regained full consciousness.

Watch Commander Szemiako of the
Welwyn Garden City Red Watch, said: “My thanks to Welwyn Garden City On-Call
crew, supported by the Hatfield and Hertford fire and Rescue teams, for their
help in quickly extinguishing a developed fire and preventing the fire from
spreading. I would also like to thank the crew for their fine work reviving the
dog.”

Pet Oxygen Therapy Masks are now
carried on-board by a number of Hertfordshire’s On Call Fire and Rescue Crews
following a donation by local charity, Smokey Paws. It is the first time the
technology has been used by Hertfordshire Crews since they were introduced.

Hertfordshire County Council’s
Fire and Rescue Service have started to carry the specialist pet oxygen masks
on its fire engines, thanks to generous donations from charity organisation,
Smokey Paws.

The masks range in size to fit
small pets such as hamsters, snakes, dogs and cats and larger animals such as
sheep and horses.

Terry Hone, Cabinet Member for
Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted that we
are starting to carry pet oxygen masks on our fire engines. People
understandably view their pets as part of the family and these kits will make a
big difference to our crews’ ability to save animals caught up in fires.

“We are very grateful to the people
and organisations who have helped raise the money for Smokey Paws to provide
these kits. It would be wonderful to be able to carry one of these kits on
every fire station.”